Inspect to protect

16 Sep 2014
Posted by Miriam O'Neill

New car sales are on the rise in Ireland and with every sale, there’s usually a trade-in, which is sold on by the dealer either on their own premises or to another trader specialising in used car sales. And while we expect little or no problems with a new car, second-hand cars can be a gamble.

Service records help; a car that’s been serviced regularly is less likely to have problems because they have less chance of developing. Asking for the Vehicle Registration Certificate (aka the “log book”) can help authenticate a car and checking the car’s history is another great way of getting under the shiny surface we all see in showrooms. The AA offers a great Car Data Check service starting from €10 that can show things like number of owners, NCT and motor tax history, write-off records and even finance.

But paperwork doesn’t tell the whole story. The NCT is a very thorough test but a car with previous crash damage can still pass because the NCT only considers a car’s current condition to ensure it meets a minimum standard. It doesn’t look at past issues or potential future issues – so for that reason, it’s best to have someone check out the car to give you the whole story.

AA Car Inspections

AA Car Inspections do just that. We have decades of experience checking cars across Ireland. We go to the car, inspect it on-site and report back to you by phone and email. We look at interior, engine bay, bodywork, paintwork, underbody and we road-test the car extensively. Our expert engineers report back that evening, allowing you to make your purchasing decision that same day.

Inspect to protect and know what you’re getting into! To find out more – and get an AA Car Inspection for the special rate of just €199 – visit our website here or contact us on 1890 456 555 and mention “AA Blog”.